The East Buchanan Lady Bulldogs, after losing to Trenton in the season opener in late November, got another shot at handing Trenton a rare loss on Thursday night, and went with a different defensive strategy, focusing their attention with double-teams and rotations on the THS high-scoring junior trio of Salem Croy, Mykah Hurley, and, in particular, Ainsley Tolson.
While generally effective in slowing down Trenton’s normally potent offense, the defensive prowess of the #3 ranked team in the state (Class 3 MBCA) played a key role in a 46-37 Trenton win that advances THS into the Hamilton Tournament championship game (Saturday / 6:00 PM on Hot Country Z 101.7).
The first half from Penney High School was nip-and-tuck, with a late two bucket surge by Trenton, including a rebound and lay-up by Maci Moore just before the buzzer, giving THS a 25-21 advantage. The game was won for the Lady Bulldogs with a strong third-quarter defensive effort, with East Buchanan’s offense held to just four points in that eight minute stretch, as Trenton extended the lead to 39-25 lead heading into the fourth. While East Buchanan rallied late to cut the lead to single digits, Trenton held on to move to 17-1 on the season, dropping East Buchanan to 10-9.
The contributions of Moore and Sidney Lynch were invaluable for Trenton in the win, as the interior duo both scored nine points, and dominated the glass. Ainsley Tolson was the only player for either side in double figures with 10 points. Salem Croy had seven in the victory. East Buchanan had nine points from Audrey Elifrits, and eight each from Lilly Schilling and Addisyn Ishmael.
The Trenton girls, for the second time in the last three Saturday’s, will play the Penney Lady Hornets in the tournament championship game, with this Saturday’s affair, unlike on January 13th, coming with home-court advantage for PHS. Penney rolled to a semifinal victory over the Braymer Lady Bobcats, 51-19. McKauley Prothero had 16 points and Nora Ford 11 in moving the Lady Hornets mark to 14-3. Jasmine Taylor scored 11 points for BHS.
In the boys semifinals, Penney’s dynamic offense proved too difficult for Trenton to slow down, as the host Hornets scored a 75-43 win over the Bulldogs. Senior LaTroy Harper scored 24 points, Cale Whitt 14, and Ryan Cook 10 for Hamilton, while Trenton had eight points each from Kade Ockenfels and Carson Burchett, with Lathan Croy scoring 7.
The East Buchanan Bulldogs beat the Lathrop Mules in the first boys semifinal of the night, 58-42. Ethan Kilgore had 19 points and Kolten Griffen 14 for the Bulldogs, with Blake Gordon tallying 14 points for the Mules.
In Friday night’s consolation finals from Penney High School, the Lathrop Lady Mules play Gallatin at 6 o’clock, with the South Harrison Bulldog boys battling Richmond at 7:30. Saturday’s schedule includes four games (two 3rd place and two championships). Basketball starts from Hamilton on Saturday at 3 PM, with the East Buchanan Lady Bulldogs going for third place against. Radio coverage on Hot Country Z 101.7 starts at 4:30, with the Trenton boys playing Lathrop in the third place game. In the girls title game on Hot Country Z 101.7, the Trenton Lady Bulldogs duel with the host Penney Lady Hornets at 6 o’clock. The Hamilton boys play top-seeded East Buchanan in the Saturday night title game finale at 7:30.
